Best Light Gun Shooter Horror Games, Ranked

Light-gun games arguably reached the peak of their popularity back in the 1990s, when the likes of Virtua Cop and Time Crisis were firm fixtures in arcades everywhere. In their time, these were some of the most immersive experiences players could have while gaming. Players physically held and aimed prop guns, which reacted to their actions.

Naturally, this kind of immersion lends itself very well to horror games, and players can be exposed to countless frights with this peripheral. More recent releases of 2022’s The House of the Dead: Remake and hit virtual reality games like Duck Season show that there is clearly still a demand for on-rails shooting action even nowadays. Here are some of the best from the light-gun glory days, ranked by their popularity and influence.

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10

Alien 3: The Gun

Xenomorph Blasting Action

• Platforms: Arcade
• Released: 1993-04-06
• Developer: Sega
• Genre: Light-gun shooter, rail shooter, horror

A game that sadly never made it out of arcades, Alien 3: The Gun is an alternate version of the third entry in the Alien movie franchise. Playing as a space marine on a rescue mission, or two marines when playing in multiplayer, the game takes place on a prison colony overrun by xenomorphs and other enemies.

Across the seven levels, players will encounter sentry turrets, facehuggers, xenomorphs, and even some hostile humans as they battle to survive. Reviewers at the time found Alien 3: The Gun terrifying, but exciting, and power-ups like flamethrowers were a very popular addition.

9

CarnEvil

Ultra-Violent Clown Killing Terror

Known for its gory violence and dark sense of humor, CarnEvil is another light-gun game that sadly never made it to home consoles, remaining confined to arcades. Featuring creepy clowns and other circus freaks, this is probably one to avoid for any players with coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.

The first three levels can be completed in any order. This unlocks the final fourth level, where players take on the final boss, Professor Ludwig von Tökkentäkker. Amazing names aside, the basic weapon can be upgraded to a shotgun or flamethrower, and players can even use acid rounds to melt the horrific foes before them.

8

Until Dawn: Rush Of Blood

Thrills And Panic In A Virtual World

The rise of virtual reality seemed to breathe new life into the dwindling interest in light-gun shooters, and a prime example of success in the horror genre is Until Dawn: Rush of Blood. Clearly inspired by CarnEvil, and a direct sequel to the horror hit Until Dawn, players shoot enemies and other inanimate objects while riding a roller coaster at a carnival.

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As the game progresses through the seven different rides, enemies and scares become more intense, as do the players’ weapons, advancing from a basic handgun up to a flare gun, machine gun and even a shotgun. There are plenty of secrets to uncover, and plenty of jump scares to spook even the bravest VR enthusiast.

7

Area 51

More Alien Blasting Action With Added Zombies

Despite a lot of negative feedback from critics, Area 51 proved to be a hit with players, and went some way towards reviving Atari’s fortunes at the time. Naturally, given that the game is named after the secretive military facility in Nevada, the enemies here are a race of aliens known as the Kronn, and the zombies they created.

Taking part in a Strategic Tactical Advanced Alien Response (STAAR) incursion, players must repel the Kronn’s attacks and prevent them from taking over the eponymous Area 51. The quirky mix of 2D and 3D graphics and animation, the over-the-top cartoonish violence, and the multitude of hidden items and levels made this game a hit, even spawning a sequel.

6

Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

A Rail Shooter With Some Freedom

• Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3
• Released: 2007-11-13
• Developers: Capcom, Cavia
• Genre: Light-gun shooter, horror

Capcom had a few attempts at Resident Evil light-gun games, but found their first critical success with Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles for the Wii and PlayStation 3. Despite the pre-set path, typical of a rail shooter, players do have some level of choice with branching paths and a limited ability to look around at times.

One innovative move for the genre is allowing players to perform melee attacks, which briefly switch the camera to a third-person perspective. Many reviewers even felt that while rail shooters usually feel restrictive, the formula is effective in this game and makes it even scarier, since there is nowhere to run.

5

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles

More Classic Zombie Slaughtering

• Platforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3
• Released: 2009-11-17
• Developers: Capcom, Cavia
• Genre: Light-gun shooter, horror

Building on the success of The Umbrella Chronicles, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is a prequel to the events of Resident Evil 4. Following the stories of Leon S. Kennedy and Jack Krauser, players must solve puzzles and shoot enemies as they seek to uncover the truth behind the T-Virus and the shady Umbrella Corporation.

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Always playing co-op, whether with an AI partner or a second human in multiplayer, players can sometimes evade enemy attacks if they successfully pass a quick time event. One notable change from the previous entry in the series is that headshots are easier, and there are more weapon customization options.

4

Beast Busters

Busting Beasts Since The 1980s

First hitting the arcades back in 1989 and being the oldest game on this list, Beast Busters is noteworthy for being the first three-player light-gun shooter. The three playable characters with their very catchy names are Johnny Justice, Paul Patriot and Sammy Stately, who are mercenaries trapped in a city ravaged by an outbreak of undead, known as Beasts.

Between each of the seven stages, players are treated to cutscenes explaining the story. In each stage, players can find power-ups, such as rocket launchers and armor. The horror themes and story were praised at the time, and the vibrant art-style is eye-catching to this day.

3

The House Of The Dead 2

As Good As Its Iconic Predecessor

Following on from the iconic original game, The House Of The Dead 2 is still fondly remembered by many players over two decades later. Picking up the story roughly a year after the events of the first game, the AMS agent protagonists find themselves in an Italian city filled with hordes of biologically-engineered zombies, while searching for their missing colleague, G.

The auto-reload feature, where players point their aiming reticle off-screen to reload, was among many gameplay features to be praised, as were the graphics and variety of branching paths. The hammy voice acting was met with derision at the time, though many fans nowadays find it endearing, adding to the game’s charm.

Arguably The Best Light-Gun Shooter Horror Game

Another must-play light-gun shooter released for the Wii and making use of the PlayStation Move peripheral, Dead Space: Extractions, is arguably the best game of its kind. A prequel to the original Dead Space game, players control one of four survivors trapped on a planet and spaceship overrun by the Necromorphs.

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Though all of the monsters players encounter in the game can be deadly, the toughest Necromorphs in Dead Space really are the stuff of nightmares.

Featuring a plethora of new enemies and weaponry, players can even utilize their controllers for melee attacks, and in true Dead Space style, dismember enemies. The story is told across ten chapters, using cutscenes and audio logs to advance the story. Many regard this game as worth playing in its own right, even for those unfamiliar with the series.

1

The House Of The Dead

Iconic And Extremely Influential

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The House of the Dead

Systems

Platform(s)

Arcade
, PC
, Sega Saturn

Released

October 15, 1996

While Dead Space: Extractions may be a better game overall, The House of the Dead is iconic, and is believed to be responsible for popularizing zombies in the media, alongside Resident Evil. Spawning many sequels and even feature films, the game was quite controversial in its time due to excessive violence and gore.

Despite that, it lives on in the consciousness of many players, inspiring popular films like 28 Days Later and Shaun of the Dead, as well as countless games. The gameplay mechanics, graphics and story still hold-up three decades later, and a remake was released back in 2022. Featuring branching paths and several endings, The House of the Dead was ahead of its time.

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